Automobile signal device



R. J. MJAHICE AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL nizw/'1cm Filed May 24. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 'is 1924.. l1,493,693

R. J. MJAHICE AUTOMOBLE SIGNAL DEVICE Filed May 24. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May i3, i924.

ll "lll l aumononiiin srenAL DEVICE.

.application area May' ai, i923. sei-iai nef 641,198.

To all fau/tom it may conce/rn.'

Be it known that I, RISTUM J. Mannion, a citizen oi' the United States, residing at Cambridge, in the county of Guernsey and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Automobile Signal Devices, o't'which lthe following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to a visual signal de# vice, adapted fory use in connection with automobiles, or other vehicles, for indicating the several operations `about to be performed, or being pert'ormed, by the driver.

An important' object ot the invention is'to provide a character, which is compact, relativelysrnall, neat and attractive in appearance, and which may be conveniently actuated by the driver, for indicating the operating conditions, such as stop, .right turn", lett turn or v"baclfing".

A 'further object of the invention is to provide a device ot the above mentioned character, which in the neutral position, will provide the usual tail light, and will also project. light upon the license plate.

.fr further obj ect oi the invention is to provide a device ot the abovementioned charactert Jformed ot "few parts, which are assembled in a manner to prevent rattling.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character, so constructed that the operating parts thereof are introduced into and removed :trom the casing et the device, 'from the upper end thereof, whereby such operating parts are covered in use, being protected 'from rain, etc. v

Other objects and advantages ot the' in- \'rention will be apparent during the course ot the following description,

ln the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate lille parts throrughouty the same, n

Figure l is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention, showing the same' applied yto an automobile,

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the device. Figure 3 is a Atransverse vertical sectional view taken online 3-3 off Figure Figure l is a horizontal sectional view taken on line Ai--fl of Figure 2,

Figure is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 5f-5' of Figure 3,

'device of the above mentioned- Figure t3 is a diagrammatic view showing the several signal elements,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a clamp for detachably securing the top to the casmg Figure '8 is a side elevation olf the manually operated actuating element, and,

Figure 9 is a planview oi' the same,

In the drawings, wherein for th'e'purpose ol' illustration is shown a preferred embodi mentor 'my invention, the numeral l0 designates asubstantially vertical casing, which is preferably 'formed ot glass, although l contemplate forming the same of metal, or any other suitable material.r It is preferred to forni this casing oli' glass, of suitable thickness and toughness, lon account of the ease and cheapnesswith which this element maybe cast. Formed integral with this casing'hl() are signal elementsit?, 1.3, lll, l5 and 16. These signa-l elements embody preterably outwardly bulging circular portions l?.

upon which are formed or n'iolded the si;m l characters The signal element l2 is inei-r erably formed or" plain or transparent glass, preferably.colored red, as is the usual color employed for the tail ligl'it ot an automobile, but oit course the invention is not restricted to this 'particular color. The signal element 13 is'prolvided with an arrow, pointing to the right, thesignal element 14e with an arrow p inting'to the'lei't, the signal element l5 with the word Stop nd thev signal element lli with the word laclr These arrows and words are preferably cast upon the elements, and are slightly raised. The casingfl() exteriorly of the several sig l elements is preferably rendered opaque, by any suitable means, such as coloring the glass blaclr, or by paintingthe glass inteA riorly or eXteriorly. The signal elements i3, 14, l5 and 1G, "exteriorly of the characters thereon, are also rendered opaque by suit ableineans, whereby the light is caused to shine through the characters, which are preferably of a light color, such as red. is

above stated, the signal element l2 is 'formed of transparent colored glass, preferably red. The invention is in no sense restricted to having the signal elements of any particular color, as obviously they may be made ot light color, such as white, 'whereby they would be readily visible in the day, without illumination.

yEhe casing l0 is rotatable, for bringing ing.

the selected signal element into the rearmost position, lor observation, and means are provided to rotatably support this cas- Such means embodies a base or plate 18, Figure 3, carrying` an upwardly projecting vertical. sleeve 19, preferably formed integral therewith. This sleeve eX- tendsvthrough an opening 20 lornied in the bottom ot the casing 10, and is eXteriorlv threaded, for engagement with a ring-nut 21, preferably formed of hard rubber. By this means the bottom of the casini,r 10 is clamped to the base 18. A coacting base 25 is clamped to a transverse bar 26, carried by the tire rack 27. The bar 26 is horizontally arranged at the rear of the automobile, as is well known.

The numeral 28 designates an inner sleeve or tube extending' vertically through the sleeve 19, in concentric relation thereto. The sleeve 28 has an intermediate reduced portion 29 forming` a shoulder 30, engaging a ball bearing 31, held between this shoulder and the upper base 18. The sleeve 28 has an outer further reduced portion 32, providing a shoulder 33, engaging the lower base 25 and adapted to clamp the same to the bar 26, this reduced portion 33- being cxteriorly screw-threaded for the reception ot a nut 34, engaging beneath the bar `26. A ball bearing` 35 surrounds the intermediate portion 29 of the sleeve and engages with the lower face ot' the upper rotatable base 18.

Disposed within the space'betweeu the outer sleeve 19, and the inner sleeve 28 is a tortional coil spring 36, one end of which is secured to the inner stationary sleeve 38, as shown at 37, and the otherend of which extends through an opening formed in the rotatable base 18 and is secured to the lower side thereof, as shown at 38. This spring istensioned whereby it will turn the casing 10 in one direction to bring' the extreme signal element 15 to the display position, the turning movement of the casing for displaying the other signal elements, `in a reverse direction, being` effected by manually operated means, against the tension of the spring. This manually operated means will be described hereinafter.

The inner sleeve 28 is provided at its up per end with the usual socket tor the reception of the shanlf. of an electric bulb 39, of the usual construction. the terminals ot this bulb engaging contacts having; connection with insulated wires 40, extending through the sleeve 28, and connected with a suitable source ol current.

The numeral 41 designates a light `guard and rellector. which may be formed ot metal, and the inner surta-ce or which may be polished. rlhis light ,.'uard extends radially within the casing' 10 with its outer end open and its rear end 42 closed, and preferably in the form of a parabolic reflector. The

. cable 52, Figures 3 and 5.

guard 41 is provided in its lower side with a sleeve 43, to lit tightly upon the sleeve 28, whereby the guard 41 will not turn thereon, there being sullicient frictional engagement between these parts for affording` a clamping connection, but 'further clauiping means may be in'ovided, il' desired. The guard 41 is stationary, and its outer end is arranged in close proximity to the signal element. when moved in alineinent therewith, whereby the light paf-:sing through thel outer end ot the guard is directed substan-- tially entirely through 'the active signal ele ment. Tn order that a proper amount of light may be supplied to the license plate 43, which is secured to Vthe bar 26. tho guard 41 is provided in its bottom portion 'with an angularly arranged depending` tubular extension 44, the inner surlace o t which is preferably polished for reflecting` the light. This tubular extension has a retlectinr sur face 45, arranged at a proper angle, ior re fleeting some of the light through the tubular extension 44, to the license plate 1l-7l. as clearly shown in Figure 3. The bottom of the casing 10 is provided with elongated openings 46, corresprnidingy in number and arrangement to the signal elements. and hence when each selected signal element is in use, the light will be supplied to the license plate.

The top oi the casing 1() is provided with a relatively large opening -l-6. through which the several interior operating elements ol. the device are passed. This (mening` is adapted to be covered by a top 47, also preferably formed ot although any othr suitable material, such as metal, may be employed. This top is provided with an interior annular groove 48, lor the reception oit the annular body portion oit a locking clamp, having resilient radial iin` gers 50, for engagement with flanges el. formed on the top of the casing); l0.. at the opening" 46. This annular body Yportion enibodies curved resilient segmental parts 49. which may be circum'terentially contracted.` and will contract when passingiY the rib ad jacent to the annular groove 48, and subsequentlyexpand within this groove.

l will now describe the n'ianually operated means for turning the casing 10 in one direction, in oppostion to the spring` 36. This means embodies a flexible element or One end of this cable extends within a groove 18', formed upon the periphery of the base 18 and a groove 25, formed in the top oll the base 25. As more clearly shown in Figure 5, the rear end of the flexible element is attached to the base 18 at 53. 52 extends from the base 18, al' a tangent, and passes through a tube or housinpi 54., suitably rsecured to the automobile, and leading to the forward end thereof, and ter- The flexible elementminating in proximity' I'to the `steering column. The tube 511 has its rear end'attached to the lower base 25, as clearly shown in Figure 5. At its forward end, the flexible elei'nent or cable 52 is connected with and wound uponv a drum` 55, which is rigidly mounted upon a rod or shaft 56. 'As more clearly shown in Figures 8 and 9, this rod or shaft 56 is rotatable within an inner tube 57, in turn rotatablewithin an outertube 58, the outer tube being rotatable within a. steering column 59, as is well known in the art. The tube 5' carries a head 59, turned by a lever 60, and this tube may be employed to regulate the spark, and the tube 58 carries a head 61, turned by a lever 62, and Vemployed to regulate the gas. A block between the heads 59 and^61 carrying spring pr ssed yplungers 59, which trictionally engage with these heads to'retard their movement or prevent accidental rotation. The rod 56 extends upwardly beyond has a head "Lv rigidly secured thereto,turned by a lever 66, arranged between the levers 6i) and 62.` Vlrlhe head 65 is engagedby spring ressed luneers 66. carrie'db a a. D D f head 6.7,"an`d"this head' 67 is loosely7 mounted uponv the upper endof the rod 56, but cannot move longitudinally thereof.- The function of the plungers 66 is to form friction" means for holding the' head 65 against improper turning movement, the friction being suiiicient to prevent the spring 36 from turning the head 65. |The gas and sparlr levers illustrated in Figures 8 and' 9, .is a modification of such there is a base 61', above the steering Wheel, which is stationary.V The Nash construction' is somewhat modiiied, andl` havermounted pins 62, anchored in the base 61', and projecting through segmental slots formed in the heads 59, 61 andy 65, thesepins extending through circular openings in theA block 63 and also serving Ito hold it against rotation. l prefer to mount the control lever66 between the levers 6() and 62, as shown, but the invention is in no sense restricted to this arrangement. mounted at any suitable point on the automobile,l and suitably connected with the cable 52, to etect its longitudinal movement. The lever 66, Figure 9, is provided at its top with a pointer 68, traveling in proximity to characters 69, which may be S, L, 0, R, B, indicating stop, left. Zero or neutral, right and back spectively.

The operation of the device is as follows:

With the lever 66.` Figure 9, in the neutral position, the tail-light signal element 12 will be in the active position. 1f it is desired to indicate a lett-hand turn, the lever 66 is advanced to the lett so that the pointer 68 '63 is arranged rback signal, the signal lever thetube5r and to the B point.

levers found `upon the Nash automobile. vIn the Nash construction A pivoted lever mayv be' rey the right, Figure 9, to the neutral. position,

the cable is wound upon the drum and will turn the casing 10 counter clock-wise. It' it is desired to give a right signal, the lever`66 is swung to the right to bring the pointer 68 adjacent to R. The cable is further Wound upon the drum and turns the casing 10, counter clock-wise, to advance the signal element 13 to the active postionA at the openiend of the guard 41, for producing a 66 ismoved lVhile I have shown and described manf ually operated means for rotating the signal element, yet it is obvious that the invention is in no sense restricted to such means. l contemplate employing electrical means to rotate or turn the signal element, and the same yis regarded as within the scope ol the invention.v

It is to be understood that the -form ot myinvention herewithr shown and described is to be taken as av preferred'example ot the same, and that various changes in the shape,

size, and arrangement of parts may be re-l sorted to without departing trom ythe spirit of my invention or the scope' of the subjoinedy claims.y f

Having thus described my invention, l claim: l s

1. ln an automobile signal device, a substantially vertical rotatable casing provided upon its side with a plurality of light'trans-` mitting signal elements, said casing being provided in its-bottom with opening corresponding in number and arrangement to the signal elements, means tor supporting the casing upon an automobile in proximity to the license "plate, a relatively stationary support within the casing, a source or light carried by the support, a light guard mounted upon the support and projecting radially therefrom with its open end so positioned that a selected signal element may be shifted in close proximity to and across the same, said light guard having a lateral tubular extension adapted for conducting some of the light to a selected opening in the bottom of the casing to the license plate, and means to turn the casing.

2. ln an automobile signal device, a lower relatively stationary base, an upper base provided with an upwardly extending sleeve, a relatively stationary support selli) cured to the lower base and serving to pivotally connect the upper base to the lower base, a casing having an opening for rereceiving said sleeve, means ior clamping the casing to the upper base, a plurality of signal elements carried by the side wall of the casing, a light guard mounted upon the relativelyy stationary support and projecting laterally toward the side wall of the casing, a source ot' light mounted within the light guard upon said support, and means to turn the upper base.

3. In an automobile signaldevice, a lower relatively stationary base, an upper rotatable base provided with a substantially Vertical sleeve, a relatively stationary supportextending through said sleeve and bases and serving to pivot-ally connect said bases, a source of light mounted upon the relatively stationary support, a casing having an opening to receive thel sleeve and clamped to the upper base, signal elements carried by the side of the casing, a light guard mounted upon the relatively stationary support and extending laterally toward the side of the casing, manually operated means to turn the casing in one direction, and a spring surrounding the relatively stationary support within the sleeve and having one end thereof connected with the support and its opposite end with the upper base.

al. In an automobile signal device, a lower base, an upper rotatable base, said bases being provided with an enclosed curved groove, a relatively stationary support pivotally connecting the upper base with the lower base, a source of light mounted upon the support, a light guard mounted upon the support and projecting radially therefrom, a casing mounted upon the upper base and provided upon its side with a plurality of signal elements, a toriional coil spring connecting the upper base and support, a flexible element connected with the upper base and operating within the curved groove, and means to move the flexible element longitudinally in one direction.

5. In an automobile signal device, an upstanding integral casing formed of glass and having light transmitting signal ele-` ments cast integral with the side wall thereof, said casing also having openings in its bottom corresponding in number and arrangement to the signal elements, a source of light within the casing, a light guard surrounding the source of light and adapted to supply the light to the selected signal element and bottom opening, such bottom ropening' being adapted to supply the light to a license plate or the like and means to turn the casing.

6. In an automobile signal device, a substantially vertical relatively stationary sleeve, a rotatable base pivoted upon the sleeve, a casing carried by the base and provided upon its periphery with a plurality of signal elements, said casing having its top open, a removable cap for the open top of the casing, an electric bulb removably mounted within the upper end or' the sleeve and adapted to be passed through the open end of the casing, a light guard removably mounted upon the upper portion of the sleeve and adapted to be moved through the open end of the casing, and means to turn the casing.

7. In an automobile signal device, asubstantially vertical support, an integral casing provided upon its periphery with signal elements integral therewith, means for pivotally mounting the casing about the support, a removable cap for the upper open end of the casing, an electric bulb removably mounted upon the upper end of the support, and a light guard removably mounted upon the upper end of the support.

8. In an automobile signal device, a casing provided upon its periphery with signal elements and having an Opening in one end, a source of light held Within the casing and adapted for removal through said opening, a top for the casing, and a resilient clamp detachably connecting the top and casing; said clamp having a contractible annular portion for insertion Within the top and resilient fingers for engaging within the casing.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signa ture. n

RISTUM J. MJAHICE. 

